About John
“It’s not possible to separate the Teacher from the Teachings in this instance, for John is simply the embodiment of these Teachings.”
John Weddepohl | Siddharthan सिद्धार्थन
Describing himself as a vagabond, rogue and rascal John Weddepohl has been blessed with teachers. South African born in Johannesburg, John began teaching yoga at nineteen. In 2004, in India pursuing his thirst for knowledge, John met his visionary master who initiated him in Atma Vidya Self-knowledge the true story and glory of the veda/upanishads. Mandated by his Guru to share the knowledge, John has been sharing the upanishadic wisdom ever since.
Deciding late in his life the little fame and fortune brought was not good enough, catching a glimpse of what sages and prophets call Truth, John discovered that there is only Truth – we just haven’t seen it yet! Never closer than ourself, having our eternal nature pointed out, being the living proof of completeness already gained and guaranteed, we can’t help but thrive and flourish. Discovering in Self-knowledge the discovery of a lifetime, discovering ‘I’ the timeless secret and gift of the universe John never looked back.
In 1969 at nineteen, John took to yoga like a fish to water. Urged by his teachers, to teach, John opened an Ishta Yoga School on the top floor of Johannesburg’s first flea market. Becoming a popular venue downtown, the Market quickly became a hotbed of anti-establishment radicalism and, under apartheid South Africa, was shut down by the authorities. Finding himself out of a job, a talented musician from the age of seven, John found success as a singer-songwriter performing with South Africa’s popular bands. After recording a few local and international hits, John later found his niche scoring music for films and television.
Awarded internationally for his work, despite enjoying success, feeling always something missing, to fill the hole, John explored Africa’s wildlife areas. Finding the flame of yoga could not be extinguished, in 2004, with the release of Nelson Mandela from prison, when India lifted it’s cultural boycott banning South Africans from visiting the country, John traveled to India.
Living as a western sadhu साधु , meeting his guru, John’s guru pointed out that the only thing missing in his life was himself!
Explaining whatever we look for in life, we carry with us, hearing that happiness was not a destination but the secret of ourself, wanting to learn more, John withdrew into the seclusion of ‘Self-Knowledge Village’ his gurudev’s ashram. Immersing himself in the traditional teachings of the vedaupanishads in Tiruvanamali, hearing oral teachings in the lineage of Adi Shankara daily, John got his education in Self-knowledge. Finding the eternal we seek is never further than oneself, finding peace is not the ‘Long walk to Freedom’ he’d imagined, being himself, already forever gained, we just have to recognise it, Swamiji removed the elephant in the room. Removing his blind spot, like the sun rising in his life, Self-knowledge exploded. No longer missing to himself, his guru destroyed all Johns doubts.
Drawing water from many different ghats (springs and watering holes), from traditional healers (sangomas)in Africa, to living Guru’s on ashrams in Orissa, Nepal, Rishikesh, Bihar and Tamil Nadu, John’s teaching reflects these different lineages and streams of knowledge. Traditional without being traditionalist students love his quick wit, wisdom, sense of humor and down to earth practical approach.
Meeting and marrying Rachel Zinman, John and Rachel spend their time teaching इष्टम् ISHTAM at festivals teacher trainings and workshops around the world. Sharing their love of music John and Rachel also sing devotional Kirtan wherever possible.
In 2021, John and Rachel created Sundaram Online Ashram an academy for higher learning and living.
John and Rachel currently live in Byron Bay, NSW. Australia
one word unlocks the human secret
Carrying the secret of creation and life’s grand prize and mystery with us, to resolve our human mystery, and misery, and collect the grand prize, all we need is to have someone point out the Truth. Long before we search for the truth, Truth has already found and reached everyone of us. Already ourselves, the Sun never sets on the Self. Momentarily covered by a cloud of ignorance, to remove the cloud, all we have to do is show up. Making ourselves available. After living with the Truth our whole lives, bringing and carrying the truth with us , Truth cant hide or go missing. Ignorance of one word separates us. ‘As though’ limiting the unlimitable, separating the inseparable , eternally carrying and holding our secret, ‘I’ not only reveals the Truth, ‘I’ is the Truth.
Wielding ‘I’ like a laser, the teacher who knows how, uses the right methodology, to explode our mystery. For truth to be revealed, just this one thought needs to be resolved: ‘I’. Recognition complete, Self knowledge rising like the sun, obliterates all the darkness. Once Truth is pointed out, the vacuum of ignorance, like a black hole the size of the universe instantly vanishes.
No longer bound and limited, having always lived in the shadow of ‘I’, the shadow of Truth, recognising the limitless Self removes all fear, uncertainty and doubt. Revelling in the light of the Self, brighter than the brightest, brighter than a thousand suns, the Truth always shining as ourselves, becomes obvious. Recognising what is always complete, confident in the knowledge, finding out the eternal destination and outcome has always been ourself, the weight of endless pain and suffering the size of the universe instantly lifts off our shoulders.
I the eternal time traveller
The veda upanishads declare long before you look for the eternal, or search for everlasting happiness, it has already found all of us. Without you, not only Truth, has no meaning, nothing has meaning…
What was once kept a secret, is no longer exclusive.
It is said there is nothing new under the sun. When it comes to the human being, as the seer of time, Self outshines and outlives everything.Described by Sri Krishna in the Bhagava…
Why is what I teach called इष्टम् ISHTAM
Combining the teachings of Vedanta/Upanishads and ASTA YOGA of Rishi Agustya John calls what he teaches इष्टम् ISHTAM‘Arriving in India, thirsty for knowledge, I fina…
From Our Students
“I don’t believe there is anything I could do on this planet more valuable than gaining this teaching. What an extraordinary blessing and privilege to have the deepest and most ancient revelatory wisdom not only available but given by a living teacher in a timeless lineage of living teachers. This knowledge can only be given by one who has already realised the truth of themselves. John’s realisation, his complete humility, his love and his deep, deep knowledge are a delight and a living access to Self-Knowledge. – Dale Rhodes
“Don’t miss out on this unique opportunity! If everyone listened & participated in these teachings the world would become a better place for all of us to live in. ‘They’ say the best way to heal the planet is to heal ourselves and these teachings provide that level of insight & opportunity for anyone willing to take the leap. “ Thank you John
“I loved the simplicity of the teachings. The step by step approach over seven weeks gave me ample time to digest the content of each session. It deepened my understanding of the nature of happiness, the nature of my thoughts and ideas/beliefs, as well as the nature of consciousness. Practically speaking, it helped me get better at slowing myself down when I catch my mind racing away. I highly recommend this to anyone who’s even remotely curious about Self Knowledge.”
John Weddepohl taught philosophy on my Yoga Teacher Training course in Goa. The students loved him and I’m impressed by his kindness and humility. He teaches in a way that dusts off the old manuscripts and brings the Gita to life off the page. As a lecturer, he brilliantly takes difficult concepts like Advaita Vedanta and renders them simple and comprehensible. He is a brilliant teacher of Self Knowledge and shares his knowledge in a way that inspires others. John’s Kirtan performances are filled with beauty and bhakti. He teaches with humour and compassion – a truly great soul.
Brunch at Brenners with Rachel & John was great. And most of all John’s lecture at AIRYOGA was very very inspiring – after class I tried to push every thought away and just be me – it was most relaxing (even in a terrible traffic jam I was smiling) and to be not caught up in a thought:) Thank you so much John. Can’t wait to have you back at AIRYOGA next year!
We had the good fortune of experiencing John’s wonderful energy and colourful teaching style during a YTT 200 course. His shining baby blue eyes and radiant smile tell the tale of his joyous approach to teaching…and life. John has the ability to speak about the burning questions to life with a childlike wonder and fascination. By breaking down complicated philosophical teachings through the use of real world examples and stories, the lessons became easier to grasp. The stories also provided as much entertainment as learning value…we will never see ice-cream the same again! Our only complaint was not having more time to sit and learn from such a generous soul. We thoroughly enjoyed every moment with John and will take advantage of any opportunity to study with him in the future!